political commentator Mr. Walton Brown said yesterday.

Mr. Brown, spokesman for the Committee for the Independence of Bermuda, said he had received "information'' on the policy.

The UK had interfered in Island affairs with the aim of getting Bermudians to make up their mind on their future, he said.

There had been "unprecedented interference'' in 1991, when Britain had told Bermuda it should scrap the death penalty.

Another example had been during the current debate on gay rights. "The British government is trying to persuade Bermuda to address that, but it is not a matter which the British government has constitutional responsibility for,'' he said.

Mr. Brown spoke following a suggestion by the Premier that Independence would likely be "back on the agenda'' as a result of military withdrawals from the Island.

"The British Government has been gently nudging countries such as Bermuda to decide their constitutional future,'' Mr. Brown said.

"Over the last three years it has engaged in what I see as a carefully constructed policy to raise questions about our constitutional future, but in an indirect manner.'' He said the Island could join Britain in harmonising with Europe, which would mean adopting European policies on tax and the free migration of workers.

Bermudians would reject that option, he said, leaving Independence the only other choice.

"If Bermudians could come to that decision beforehand it would make the British task much easier. There is reason to believe that pressure has been exerted on the Bermuda Government to make a decision.

"The information that I have received suggests there has been some indirect pressure on Bermuda.'' Base closures had confirmed what his committee had been saying.

"One of the arguments against Bermuda controlling its own destiny is that we need these countries here to provide for security.

"But they have decided to close shop for their own very good reasons, with no consideration at all for the Bermudian position.'' The Tourism Minister said yesterday it was an "issue of survival'' whether or not to go Independent.

"There are so many things that will have to be considered and arranged,'' said the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge, who has been a staunch opponent of Independence.

"I can't just say we should go Independent because the Royal Navy has pulled out or simply because of some monetary reasons.'' American had decided it could not "go it alone'' and had joined NAFTA, he said. Similarly, Britain was linking with Europe.

"I have to ask myself what is in the best interests of this Country before I am able to take a position.''